Career Center

Summary

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is recruiting for a Fee Basis Dental Hygienist. The Fee Basis Dental Hygienist will function in the Dental Service on a Fee Basis appointment. Compensation will be based on a per patient basis.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) Education and Experience
• Applicants must possess an Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program
• The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Approved programs are: (1) Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• (2) [Education completed outside of the United States must be considered at least equivalent to that gained in CODA accredited United States programs and would enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination - which is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.] Licensure/Certification Licensure: Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full - current and unrestricted license in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Certification: P.L
• 97-35 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981 - requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel
• To meet this requirement - they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers
• Loss of Credential: Management officials will remove dental hygienists from their positions who fail to maintain the required licensure/certification - which may also result in termination of employment
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• English Language Proficiency
• Fee Basis Dental Hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with Chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) - Light lifting (under 15 pounds) - light carrying (under 15 pounds) - pushing (1/2 hours) - standing (2 hours) - walking (2 hours) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - specific visual requirement (corrected vision accepted) - and hearing without aid
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication - complications and expected treatment outcomes for each
• Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment - radiation safety - assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films
• Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application
• Skill in detecting plaque and calculus - dental abnormalities/pathologies - assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure
• Skill in educating patients and caregivers on periodontal disease - wellness - health maintenance - oral hygiene practices - parafunctional habits - and effects of illness - addictions - medications - and tobacco on the oral cavity
• Ability to assess the patient's medical - dental - anxiety/phobias - medications - and comorbidities to administer safe patient care
• Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health - recognize age-related changes in individual patients - adapt patient environment - and maximize patient's physical comfort
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Fee Basis Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision
• It is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients
• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: patient medical assessment (e.g
• medical/dental history - social history - vital signs - full periodontal assessment and charting) - disease and treatment management recommendations - denture care - scaling and root planing - radiographs/image interpretation - patient education (e.g
• post-procedure - tobacco cessation - caries and perio-disease prevention) - behavior management - management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors) - instrument sharpening and inter-service communication
• Major Responsibilities: The Fee Basis Dental Hygienist will be performing and/or responsible for the following functions: Performing preventative Dental Cleanings on New and Recall patients Performing deep cleanings and scaling/root planning with local anesthetics Discussing Oral Hygiene Practices and Recommendations with patients Administering preventative fluoride treatment Taking Radiographs on recall patients and assisting in conducting recall exams with Dentists Work Schedule: Intermittent - Fee Basis - discuss specifics during interview Rates: Compensation will be based on a per patient basis: $60 per patient Salary cap: $92 -000 per calendar year - NTE 12/31/2025 (if approved - may be renewed yearly) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Telework: Not Available